Community News
Unit 7 Fire Protection District among grant recipients from Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal
Springfield, Ill- The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) announced today the recipients of the 2024 Small Equipment Grant Program. A total of $4 million was awarded to 178 fire departments/districts and EMS providers across the state. The program was established to provide grants of up to $26,000 each for the purchase of small firefighting and ambulance equipment.
This program is an innovative approach to a problem that has long caused difficulties for fire departments and not-for profit ambulance services in Illinois, particularly those that have hardships in generating the necessary revenue for small equipment. The purpose is to allow eligible applicants the opportunity to purchase small equipment that they may otherwise not be able to purchase. The OSFM received 347 applications, requesting around $7.7 million in funding for this grant period.
“Grant programs like our Small Equipment Grant Program are critical in providing fire departments and ambulance providers with the necessary equipment to ensure their staff can perform their duties safely and efficiently. These grants alleviate the burden of tough financial decisions, allowing departments to acquire essential tools without delay, ensuring they have what they need when they need it,” said Illinois State Fire Marshal James A. Rivera.
Most Illinois fire departments, fire protections districts, township fire departments, and stand-alone, nonprofit ambulance service providers were eligible to apply. All fire departments, fire protections districts and township fire department applicants were required to have participated in the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) for a minimum of two years prior to applying.
Grant recipients and awards are listed below:
Alexander:
- Cairo Fire Department $20,728.50
Bond:
- Smithboro Fire Protection District $26,000
- Shoal Creek Fire Protection District $25,950.40
Boone:
- Boone County Fire Protection District #2 $25,271.64
Brown:
- Versailles Fire Protection District $26,000
Bureau:
- Mineral-Gold Fire Protection District $24,991.73
Calhoun:
- Hardin Fire Protection District $23,124.99
- North Calhoun Fire Protection District $8,968
- Calhoun County Volunteer Ambulance Service $25,130.63
Carroll:
- Lanark Fire Protection District $26,000
- Milledgeville Fire Protection District $16,331.20
Cass:
- Beardstown Fire Department $25,996
- Chandlerville Volunteer Fire Department $20,224
Champaign:
- Homer Fire Protection District $7,200
- Eastern Prairie Fire Protection District $24,426.88
- Cornbelt Fire Protection District $21,174
- Thomasboro Fire Protection District $25,022.80
- Gifford Fire Protection District $15,500
- Pesotum Fire $22,322
- Tolono Fire Protection District $26,000
Christian:
- Taylorville Fire Department $24,500
Clinton:
- Wheatfield Fire Protection District $26,000
- Huey Ferrin Boulder Fire Protection District $25,557.40
Cook:
- LaGrange Fire Department $26,000
- Rollings Meadows Fire Department $7,189
- Berwyn Fire Department $8,398
- Palatine Fire Department $25,740
- Streamwood Fire Department $23,820
- Calumet Park Fire Department $21,435.64
- Schiller Park Fire Department $4,159.97
- North Maine Fire Protection District $25,863
- Des Plaines Fire Department $25,500
- Mount Prospect Fire Department $11,915
- Glenwood Fire Department $26,000
- Franklin Park Fire Department $12,126
- Evanston Fire Department $24,943
- North Palos Fire Protection District $23,820
- Stickney Fire Department $4,905
Cook/DuPage:
- Elk Grove Village Fire Department $26,000
Cumberland:
- Greenup Fire Protection District $21,210
DeKalb:
- Lee Community Fire Protection District $25,000
- Malta Fire Protection District $11,997
DeWitt:
- Kenney Fire Protection District $26,000
DuPage:
- Warrenville Fire Protection District $16,059
- Wheaton Fire Department $26,000
- Bloomingdale Fire Protection District #1 $26,000
- Itasca Fire Protection District $10,400
- Downers Grove Fire Department $12,200
- Wood Dale Fire Protection District $26,000
- Glen Ellyn $25,895
Edgar:
- Paris Community Fire Protection District $26,000
Effingham:
- Effingham Fire Department $10,999.20
Fayette:
- Brownstown Fire Protection District $25,200
Franklin:
- Cave Eastern Fire Protection District $26,000
- City of Zeigler Fire Department $20,000.08
Fulton:
- Farmington Fire Protection District $26,000
- Cass-Putman Rescue Service NFP $23,815
Gallatin:
- Shawneetown Fire Department $26,000
Greene:
- Carrollton Fire Protection District $25,900
Grundy:
- Coal City Fire Protection District $18,750
- Gardner Fire Protection District $12,142.42
Hancock:
- Nauvoo Fire Protection District $26,000
Hardin:
- Rosiclare Fire Department $25,669.55
Henry:
- Colona Community Fire Protection District $21,500
- Kewanee Fire Department $21,455.46
Iroquois:
- Watseka Fire Department $26,000
- Gilman Fire Protection District $25,974
- Crescent-Iroquois Fire Protection District $26,000
Jackson:
- Carbondale Township Fire Department $24,525
- Murphysboro Fire Department $12,450
- Village of Gorham Volunteer Fire Department $25,989.85
Jo Daviess:
- Apple River Fire Protection District $26,000
Johnson:
- Buncombe Fire Department $26,000
- Goreville Fire Department $25,945.15
Kane:
- Burlington Community Fire Protection District $23,000
- Geneva Fire Department $24,695
Kankakee:
- Aroma Fire Protection District $22,123
- Bradley Fire Department $23,420
- Limestone Township Fire Protection District $22,793
Kendall:
- Oswego Fire Protection District $25,440
Lake:
- Lake Forest Fire Department $9,087.30
- Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District $26,000
- Mundelein Fire Department $26,000
LaSalle:
- Grand Ridge Volunteer Fire Department $16,927.50
- Ottawa Fire Department $10,198
- Tonica Volunteer Fire Department $10,650
- Sheridan Community Fire Protection District $10,747
Livingston:
- Emington-Campus Fire Protection District $18,297.50
- Forrest-Strawn-Wing Fire Protection District $24,776
Macon:
- Harristown Fire Protection District $25,912
- Mt. Zion Fire Protection District $20,763.30
- Long Creek Fire Protection District $25,840
Macoupin:
- Area Ambulance Service (Medora) $26,000
- Unit 7 Fire Protection District $25,200
- Medora Community Fire Protection District $13,545
Madison:
- Long Lake Fire Protection District $25,965
- Mitchell Fire Protection District $26,000
- Fosterburg Fire Protection District $8,684
- Roxana Fire Department $25,149
- Alton Fire Department $26,000
- Worden Fire Protection District $26,000
- Hartford Fire Department $26,000
- Maryville Village Fire Department $15,265
- Grantfork Fire Protection District $25,002.20
- South Roxana Fire Protection District $25,557
Marion:
- Odin Fire Protection District $26,000
- Salem Fire Protection District $19,664.90
Marshall:
- Toulca-Rutland Fire Protection District $25,992
Mason:
- Easton Rural Fire Protection District $25,992
- Mason City Fire Protection District $24,150
Massac:
- Joppa Fire Department $26,000
McDonough:
- Macomb Fire Department $24,254.90
- Good Hope-Sciota Fire Protection District $26,000
McHenry:
- Wonder Lake Fire Protection District $24,970
McLean:
- Bellflower Fire Protection District $25,250
Monroe:
- City of Columbia Ambulance Service $26,000
- Maeystown Rural Fire Protection District $24,575
Montgomery:
- Witt Volunteer Fire Department $3,138.80
- Taylor Springs Fire Department $22,890
- Coffeen Fire Protection District $25,985.34
- Farmersville Waggoner Fire Protection District $24,786.30
- Fillmore Community Fire Protection District $26,000
Morgan:
- Waverly Fire Protection District $26,000
- Franklin Fire Protection District $24,390
- Chapin Area Rescue Squad $14,607.95
Peoria:
- Limestone Township Fire Protection District $23,178
- Dunlap Community Fire Protection District $21,985
- Logan-Trivoli Fire Protection District $14,954
Perry:
- Pinckneyville Fire Department $23,480
- City of Du Quoin Fire Department $26,000
- Pinckneyville Rural Fire Protection District $23,480
Piatt:
- Cisco Fire Protection District $26,000
- Hammond Fire Protection District $25,770
- Bement Fire Protection District $26,000
- Monticello Fire & Rescue Department $26,000
Pike:
- Pleasant Hill Fire Protection District $25,990
Pope:
- Rural Pope County Fire Protection District $20,239.80
Pulaski:
- Grand Chain Fire Department $17,813.53
- Olmsted Fire Department $25,290.06
Randolph:
- Sparta Fire Department $23,559.54
- Red Bud Fire Department $25,950
Rock Island:
- Hampton Fire Rescue $17,500
Sangamon:
- Springfield Fire Department $23,801.62
- Chatham Community Fire Protection District $24,575
- Divernon Fire Protection District $25,486
Scott:
- North Scott Fire Protection District $25,770
Shelby:
- Oconee Fire Department $25,574.55
St. Clair:
- Belleville Fire Department $15,315
- St. Libory Fire Protection District $25,800
- Mascoutah Fire Department $25,812
- Marissa Volunteer Fire Protection District $25,200
Stephenson:
- Davis Fire Protection District $18,505
- Rock City Fire Protection District $24,840
Tazewell:
- Creve Coeur Fire Department $7,416.88
- East Peoria Fire Department $13,692
- Green Valley Fire Protection District $19,725
Union:
- Ware-Wolf Lake Fire Protection District $9,822.91
Warren:
- Little York Fire Protection District $17,280
Washington:
- Hoyleton Community Fire Protection District $22,400
- Addieville Community Fire Protection District $25,989.44
Wayne:
- Wayne County Ambulance Service $24,162.07
- Wayne Fire Protection District #1 $26,000
White:
- Enfield Fire Protection District $26,000
- Village of Crossville Fire Department $22,065.06
- Norris City Fire Protection District $25,346
Whiteside:
- Erie Fire Protection District $23,919
Will:
- Troy Fire Protection District $26,000
- Elwood Fire Protection District $19,395
- Braidwood Fire Protection District $25,495.44
- Romeoville Fire Department $26,000
- Beecher Fire Protection District $19,742
- Bolingbrook Fire Department $24,200
Williamson:
- Marion Fire Department $26,000
- Cambria Fire Department $21,200
- Williamson County Fire Protection District $26,000
Williamson/Saline:
- Stonefort Fire Department $13,410
Winnebago:
- North Park Fire Protection District $12,897.75
Woodford:
- Metamora Fire Protection District $25,910
Comments
2:18 Missions, a nonprofit focused on home repair projects in the Gillespie area and humanitarian efforts at Henderson Settlement in Frakes, Kentucky, has launched a spring food drive to support families served by the Henderson Settlement Food Pantry. The pantry assists low-income families across five counties in the Appalachian region, where a steady supply of nourishing food is essential.
The organization emphasizes that no donation is too small or too large. Right now, all contributions received from now through the first week of April will directly fund food for families in need. It costs roughly $35 to provide food for a family of four for an entire month, a goal that this drive aims to meet for as many families as possible.
Donations can be made in several convenient ways. Checks or cash may be given to any 2:18 Missions team member. For those who prefer digital options, donations are accepted via Venmo or PayPal at 2:18 Missions Nfp. Community members are also encouraged to follow and engage with updates on the 2:18 Missions Facebook page.
2:18 Missions stresses that every contribution, regardless of size, makes a tangible difference in the lives of families working to make ends meet in the mountains of Kentucky and the residents of Gillespie who support their neighbors in need. The organization invites the public to join in this effort and to help spread the word through social media and word of mouth.
Comments
The Gillespie Public Library invites the community to its 13th annual Night of Trivia and Games, a popular evening of competition, camaraderie, and cash prizes. The event is set for Saturday, March 28, 2025, with doors opening at 6:15 p.m. and play beginning at 7 p.m. at the Gillespie Civic Center.
Attendees can expect a safe, social night out as organizers have arranged tables to accommodate social distancing, ensuring guests can enjoy the fun in a comfortable setting. The evening features prizes for first, second, and third place, along with a 50-50 drawing and other assorted cash games and prizes.
In keeping with the event’s lighthearted spirit, there will be no silent auction. Organizers emphasize that the goal is “Only laughs and fun,” with a chance to win money while enjoying a friendly competition format.
Entry is a $100 team fee, with a maximum of 10 players per team. Participants are encouraged to pre-register by March 25 to guarantee a table. Registration options include mailing a form to Gillespie Public Library, 201 W Chestnut, Gillespie, IL 62033; calling the library at 217-839-3614; or contacting Steve Joyce at 217-839-2839.
For those interested in joining or learning more, team captains should designate a contact person and provide a reachable phone number during registration.
Comments
The estate of the late Lindell and Jean Loveless, longtime Macoupin County pork producers, has made generous equal gifts to The Partnership for Educational Excellence in Gillespie CUSD #7 and to the Carlinville CUSD #1 Education Foundation. The gifts come from the remainder of a family trust established to ensure high-quality end-of-life care and were divided upon Jean Loveless’s passing, with equal shares allocated to the education foundations in each district.
Tim Loveless, local businessman and son of Lindell and Jean, emphasized the family’s enduring commitment to education and practical life skills. “It was my parents’ desire to use these remaining funds to support and enhance career and technical education programs in our schools,” Loveless said. He recalled his family’s deep roots in hard work and the value of life skills, noting that “the spirit of this gift is to prepare students for life in general, and to prepare them to earn a living by learning a trade.”
“The bottom half of the class,” Tim continued, “needs financial education and practical skills. A person can learn and earn their way to success.” He described his parents’, grandparents’, and great-grandparents’ diverse ventures—from farming and cattle to turkey production, nursing homes, meat processing, swine production, and subdivisions—and underscored that high formal education is not the sole path to success, but motivation and skill are crucial. He expressed hope that the gift will help school districts boost opportunities for students who may doubt their ability to succeed.
John Fassero, Jr., president of The Partnership for Educational Excellence in CUSD7, welcomed the gift as a strong alignment with the Partnership’s mission. “This Loveless family gift is a perfect fit for the established goals and policies of The Partnership,” Fassero said.
Since its founding in 1992, The Partnership has awarded nearly 600 scholarships based on goals and hard work rather than GPA or class rank. Fassero noted that the organization has several scholarships targeted to the trades, and that nearly 20 scholars have pursued trade school education in the past four years alone. “In addition, two-thirds of The Partnership’s giving is directed to curriculum enhancement across all three schools and in all specialties, including shop and FFA,” Fassero added.
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